DARWINISM IN EUROPE

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 1, 1903

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 29, No. 13.

DARWINISM IN EUROPE.

AMONG scientists in Europe at the present time a strong movement is on foot against Darwinism, the descent of man from beings of a lower order through natural selection. This does not mean, on the part of all Darwinism’s opponents, a disbelief in evolution; but the “descent of man,” through the scheme worked out by Mr. Darwin, is believed by many well-known scientists to be a matter of ancient history, whose death struggle is now being witnessed.

But evolution is still a matter of belief among these same scientists, who must have some other plan than the plan of God for the creation and perpetuation of man upon the earth. Darwinism is found untenable, and some other untried, and unproved, and unprovable scheme must be adopted to blind the eyes of men to the truth of God. It is not proved that the new process is any more susceptible of proof than was the old; but it is newer, and not so much evidence has yet been found against it. When this also has had its day, it, too, will be superseded by something unproved and less easily disproved for the time—so busy is the enemy of souls with the deception of men.

On the other hand, however, there are eminent scientists who discard the whole unbiblical belief. The great bacteriologist, Pasteur, was an outspoken opponent of the whole evolutionary philosophy, and stated his opposition in these words: “Posterity will one day laugh at the foolishness of the modern materialistic philosophers. The more I study nature, the more I stand amazed at the works of the Creator. I pray while I am engaged in my work at the laboratory.” Professor Virchow (now deceased), tho not a professed Christian, was as outspoken an opponent of Darwinism as was Pasteur. At the last convention of anthropologists, held in Vienna, he said: “The attempt to find the transition from animal to man has ended in a total failure. The middle link has not been found, and will not be found. Man is not descended from the ape. It has been proved beyond a doubt that during the past five thousand years there has been no noticeable change in mankind.” The majority, however, do not go so far as this. While discarding Darwinism, they yet hold that “the germ of truth which it contained will become a permanent possession of modern science.” There is no doubt that this “germ,” tho its right to the title of “germ of truth” has never been, and never can be, proved will remain with the race until it and all other germs are consumed in the fires of the last day. It will continue to do its work of deception until the author of all deception himself is taken out of the way. It never was aught but a theory; always in opposition to Bible truth; never proved by any of its supporters, and now being discarded piecemeal by those who had looked to it as a confounder of the Bible. The only sensible thing to do is to discard it wholly, and plant the feet firmly on that Rock against which evolution has pounded and broken itself. We can not hold to evolution and Christianity at one and the same time. The former was devised to blind men’s eyes to the truths of the Gospel. It will work as long as Satan is permitted to work, and will cease when he is no more. In the last great struggle between truth and error which is now on and will soon be decided we can not afford to be found bolstering up this unchristian theory of creation.